WingmanOpen the free toolsWingmanOpen the free toolsIf the VA already service-connected your skin conditions (also called scars, skin condition, dermatitis, eczema), it can cause or worsen other conditions that are ratable on their own. These "secondary" claims are where many veterans leave money on the table. Below is what a service-connected skin conditions commonly leads to, why, and what evidence each one takes.
A secondary claim only works if the primary condition (skin conditions) is already service-connected, and you have a nexus — a doctor's opinion that it is "at least as likely as not" the cause. More on nexus letters →
Surgery to treat a service-connected condition leaves scars that can be separately rated, especially if painful, unstable, or covering a large area.
What you'd need: Documentation of the scar's size, and whether it is painful or unstable, tied to a service-connected condition or its surgical treatment.
Visible scarring or disfiguring skin conditions, especially on the head/face/neck, can cause depression and social anxiety.
What you'd need: A mental health diagnosis and a nexus opinion linking it to the disfigurement from the service-connected skin condition/scar.